Aragon eyes retirement, resigns as La Marque’s police chief After four years in his second stint as the police chief in La Marque, Randall Aragon surprised many when he submitted his resignation on Wednesday (10/25/2025). “I’ve been thinking about this for several weeks,” Aragon said by phone. “There are so many distractions right now, and a few things that happened convinced me it was time.” Aragon’s resignation is immediate, and he said he plans to retire. Sgt. Gilberto Rodriguez was appointed acting chief by interim City Manager Barbara Holly. Aragon said he was not pressured by Holly or anyone in administration or council to step down. Holly said the chief’s decision to retire was his own, and he informed her around 4 p.m. on Wednesday. “When you’ve been chief as long as I have (32 years as a top cop), you can sense when there needs to be a change,” Aragon said. Referring to the “distractions,” Aragon said there are times when remaining chief becomes untenable, no matter how false the claims against him or incessant the detractors. “I don’t want what’s happening to take away from our officers' jobs or their standing in the community,” Aragon said. This was Aragon’s second time as La Marque’s police chief. He was chief from 2009 to 2012 before retiring and eventually taking a post as a police chief in Alaska. He returned in 2021, soon after former Chief Kirk Jackson, who had already announced his retirement, left office early as part of a mass exodus of top city staff in a public display of no confidence in newly elevated Mayor Keith Bell. Upon his return as chief, Aragon quickly had to wear two hats and was named interim City Manager after the other interim City Manager, Chaise Gary, left to be the public works director in his hometown of Dickinson. Aragon’s tenure has been marked by strides in reducing the city’s crime rate after working with Bell to create the Safe City initiative. That effort was a key component in La Marque being named an All-American City last year by the National Civic League. Still, Aragon’s stance has taken hits since then. He’s been accused of instructing his department’s detectives to investigate political targets of City Council Member Joseph Lowry, who was once the chief's sworn enemy. Aragon detractors claim, without proof or evidence, that Aragon stifled investigations of Lowry's harassment that failed to result in charges. Former Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady, who retired last week, refuted those claims, saying his office reviewed every claim - felony or misdemeanor - made by or against Lowry and said there was not enough credible evidence to charge Lowry with any crimes. Roady said he informed Bell and Council Member Kimberly Yancy of why his office has not charged Lowry with any crimes. Yancy is often the target of Lowry’s unhinged and frequently crude online postings and unproven accusations. Other activists who claim Aragon had been “corrupted” by Lowry criticized the chief and again, without solid proof, claimed the chief lied on his job application when he sought to return to La Marque as the top cop. Lowry, too, had made several unsubstantiated allegations that Aragon was corrupt because his department would not investigate Bell or Yancy for what the council member alleges are corrupt acts by the two. Eventually, Aragon and Lowry came to an understanding and buried the hatchet. As for his future? Aragon said he will take time to consider his next steps. The 79-year-old said he is still energetic and “has a lot to give.” He even hinted that he may consider holding public office again. He was once a city commissioner in Truth and Consewuneces, New Mexico. When asked if that could mean his name would be on the ballot in La Marque, Aragon said it wouldn’t be out of the question. “I’ve had many people locally encourage me to run,” Aragon said. “It’s too early to speculate about that.”

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2025-10-15 23:11:00 UTC